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My Kind of People
From the author of The Salt House and This Is Home comes a profound novel about the power of community and a small town’s long-buried secrets as a group of New England islanders come together for a recently orphaned girl.
On Ichabod Island, a jagged strip of land thirteen miles off the coast of Massachusetts, ten-year-old Sky becomes an orphan for the second time after a tragic accident claims the lives of her adoptive parents.
Grieving the death of his best friends, Leo’s life is turned upside down when he finds himself the guardian of young Sky. Back on the island and struggling to balance his new responsibilities and his marriage to his husband, Leo is supported by a powerful community of neighbors, many of them harboring secrets of their own.
Maggie, who helps with Sky’s childcare, has hit a breaking point with her police chief husband, who becomes embroiled in a local scandal. Her best friend Agnes, the island busybody, invites Sky’s estranged grandmother to stay for the summer, straining already precarious relationships. Their neighbor Joe struggles with whether to tell all was not well in Sky’s house in the months leading up to the accident. And among them all is a mysterious woman, drawn to Ichabod to fulfill a dying wish.
Perfect for fans of Celeste Ng and Ann Leary, My Kind of People is a riveting, impassioned novel about the resilience of community and what connects us all in the face of tragedy.
On Ichabod Island, a jagged strip of land thirteen miles off the coast of Massachusetts, ten-year-old Sky becomes an orphan for the second time after a tragic accident claims the lives of her adoptive parents.
Grieving the death of his best friends, Leo’s life is turned upside down when he finds himself the guardian of young Sky. Back on the island and struggling to balance his new responsibilities and his marriage to his husband, Leo is supported by a powerful community of neighbors, many of them harboring secrets of their own.
Maggie, who helps with Sky’s childcare, has hit a breaking point with her police chief husband, who becomes embroiled in a local scandal. Her best friend Agnes, the island busybody, invites Sky’s estranged grandmother to stay for the summer, straining already precarious relationships. Their neighbor Joe struggles with whether to tell all was not well in Sky’s house in the months leading up to the accident. And among them all is a mysterious woman, drawn to Ichabod to fulfill a dying wish.
Perfect for fans of Celeste Ng and Ann Leary, My Kind of People is a riveting, impassioned novel about the resilience of community and what connects us all in the face of tragedy.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2020
140 people are currently reading
4403 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Duffy
7 books281 followersLisa Duffy is the author of This is Home and The Salt House, named by Real Simple as a Best Book of the Month upon its June release, as well as one of Bustle’s Best Debut Novels by Women in 2017, a She Reads Book Club selection and Refinery 29’s Best Beach Reads of 2017.
Lisa received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts. Her short fiction was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and her writing can be found in numerous publications, including Writer’s Digest. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and three children.
Lisa received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts. Her short fiction was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and her writing can be found in numerous publications, including Writer’s Digest. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
May 26, 2020
***NOW AVAILABLE***
What a great read! I had high expectations going into this one because I really enjoyed “This Is Home”. Ms. Duffy has written another wonderfully character driven novel set on an island off of Massachusetts. She does it all right, the atmosphere, the characters, the intricate plotting, I loved it all.
Sky is a precocious ten year old who is trying to figure out what her life will be like now that her parents are both gone, killed in an automobile accident. She was an orphan, adopted as a newborn and no one knows her background, or do they?
Leo has been a friend of Sky’s father since they were young, they both grew up on Ichabod island. Sky has known him all of her life and now her parents have appointed him her legal guardian. He had been living off of the island with his husband but is definitely willing to step up. He loves Sky, he’s just not sure if he will do the right things as a parent. His husband Xavier has no desire to move to the island, the city is his home. Leo goes through a lot of changes throughout the novel, parenting, finding a job he can do from home, living without the husband whom he loves. I enjoyed the way the character evolved.
There is so much going on that I flew through the pages. Maggie, Sky’s neighbor, has been a part of her life growing up. She has two grown sons who are not around and a husband who has already cheated on her once. She is realizing for the first time that she has the ability to change what is making her unhappy. She has always been a good friend to Ann and Brian, Sky’s parents and thinks that Leo will be a great dad.
Agnes is the town historian and into everyone’s business. Her ancestors were some of the first on the island and she’s very proud of that fact. Agnes and Maggie have been friends for 20 plus years but lately Agnes’s opinions are beginning to corrode their friendship.
Joe is a local construction company owner who is sidelined because of a fall. He sees and hears a lot of what is going on in the neighborhood while he is out tending his garden. He seems to be always ready to lend a helping hand and is holding a secret which he’s not sure should be revealed.
Frankie is Sky’s best friend and together they will weather the storm of changes.
Then there is the mystery person, whose thoughts are flowing throughout the book. This person is troubled and ill but has returned to the island for a purpose, we will find out what that is.
Whew, I’m ranting, but the characters have embedded themselves in my mind and this is one of those books that I just didn’t want to end. I found the characters to be believable and well developed and I found myself rooting for them all. In this case a community really is ready to help raise a child -- Sky.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written drama. Small towns often hold big secrets!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
The novel is set to publish on May 12, 2020, watch for it!
What a great read! I had high expectations going into this one because I really enjoyed “This Is Home”. Ms. Duffy has written another wonderfully character driven novel set on an island off of Massachusetts. She does it all right, the atmosphere, the characters, the intricate plotting, I loved it all.
Sky is a precocious ten year old who is trying to figure out what her life will be like now that her parents are both gone, killed in an automobile accident. She was an orphan, adopted as a newborn and no one knows her background, or do they?
Leo has been a friend of Sky’s father since they were young, they both grew up on Ichabod island. Sky has known him all of her life and now her parents have appointed him her legal guardian. He had been living off of the island with his husband but is definitely willing to step up. He loves Sky, he’s just not sure if he will do the right things as a parent. His husband Xavier has no desire to move to the island, the city is his home. Leo goes through a lot of changes throughout the novel, parenting, finding a job he can do from home, living without the husband whom he loves. I enjoyed the way the character evolved.
There is so much going on that I flew through the pages. Maggie, Sky’s neighbor, has been a part of her life growing up. She has two grown sons who are not around and a husband who has already cheated on her once. She is realizing for the first time that she has the ability to change what is making her unhappy. She has always been a good friend to Ann and Brian, Sky’s parents and thinks that Leo will be a great dad.
Agnes is the town historian and into everyone’s business. Her ancestors were some of the first on the island and she’s very proud of that fact. Agnes and Maggie have been friends for 20 plus years but lately Agnes’s opinions are beginning to corrode their friendship.
Joe is a local construction company owner who is sidelined because of a fall. He sees and hears a lot of what is going on in the neighborhood while he is out tending his garden. He seems to be always ready to lend a helping hand and is holding a secret which he’s not sure should be revealed.
Frankie is Sky’s best friend and together they will weather the storm of changes.
Then there is the mystery person, whose thoughts are flowing throughout the book. This person is troubled and ill but has returned to the island for a purpose, we will find out what that is.
Whew, I’m ranting, but the characters have embedded themselves in my mind and this is one of those books that I just didn’t want to end. I found the characters to be believable and well developed and I found myself rooting for them all. In this case a community really is ready to help raise a child -- Sky.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written drama. Small towns often hold big secrets!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
The novel is set to publish on May 12, 2020, watch for it!
May 18, 2020
“...Sometimes the strongest friendships come from loneliest despair.”
My Kind of People is a character-driven story about a group of people who live on an island off of the New England coast who are brought together by a tragedy. Through their relationships, they not only heal but also discover the true meaning of love and self-acceptance.
Sky, a 10-year-old girl, lost both of her parents in a tragic accident. She now lives with Leo, her guardian, and Xavier, Leo’s husband. Sky’s neighbor Maggie, who also happens to be her school teacher, helps Sky and Leo, overcome their heartache, while at the same time deals with her own fractured relationships.
Told through the eyes of Sky, Maggie, and Leo, I enjoyed each of their narratives equally.
While the plot isn’t wholly original, I was talking to a friend who read a book recently with a similar plot, the characters have heart and bring this story alive.
The characters made this book for me; I loved all of the characters and enjoyed their narratives in different ways. In addition to the characters, I also loved the setting of Ichabod Island. Duffy transported me to New England, and I was able to escape while reading this. Overall, this is a heartfelt and emotional read with lovely characters and a lovely message!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
My Kind of People is a character-driven story about a group of people who live on an island off of the New England coast who are brought together by a tragedy. Through their relationships, they not only heal but also discover the true meaning of love and self-acceptance.
Sky, a 10-year-old girl, lost both of her parents in a tragic accident. She now lives with Leo, her guardian, and Xavier, Leo’s husband. Sky’s neighbor Maggie, who also happens to be her school teacher, helps Sky and Leo, overcome their heartache, while at the same time deals with her own fractured relationships.
Told through the eyes of Sky, Maggie, and Leo, I enjoyed each of their narratives equally.
While the plot isn’t wholly original, I was talking to a friend who read a book recently with a similar plot, the characters have heart and bring this story alive.
The characters made this book for me; I loved all of the characters and enjoyed their narratives in different ways. In addition to the characters, I also loved the setting of Ichabod Island. Duffy transported me to New England, and I was able to escape while reading this. Overall, this is a heartfelt and emotional read with lovely characters and a lovely message!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2020
My kind of People is My kind of book!
If you enjoyed This is Home by Duffy....you'll enjoy this.
Thirteen miles off the coast of Massachusetts, on Ichabod Island, ten-year-old, Skye has become an orphan for the second time in her life when her adoptive parents die in an accident. Not only does Leo learn that his best friend died in the accident, but he has been named Skye's guardian. Back on the Island, he is trying his best to make it work, while his husband, is struggling with island life and having a child in their life.
Maggie is a constant in Skye's life and is more than supportive of Leo and helps whenever she can. She's a loving woman who is struggling with her marriage and a local scandal which has opened her eyes.
Agnes is a busy body who happens to be Maggie's best friend. But can their relationship survive when Agnes steps over the line?
Joe, another neighbor, is quick to welcome Joe and his husband to the island. He is recovering from a bad fall and burdened with the knowledge that something wasn't quite right in Skye's home months leading up to the accident.
Lastly, there is a mysterious woman who is on the island who has come to Ichabod to fulfill her dying wish.
Community, love, tragedy, relationships, friendship, addiction, mental illness, family, hope, starting over, secrets, inappropriateness, and talent. This book has a little bit of everything. The characters are likable, flawed, relatable and have depth.
Duffy has a gift of transporting readers to her locations. I felt as if I were a member of this Island Community watching as this group of people rallied together even while having their differences. I loved the use of the mysterious character and was trying to figure out how she fits into the story and once I knew it just made the book even more enjoyable for me.
Fans of Duffy will enjoy this book. For those who have not read her, have your eyes out for this book and while you are at it, check out her other books (The Salt House, This is Home) as well.
I found this book to be well written, engaging, thought-provoking end endearing. A must read!
Thank you to Lisa Duffy and Maudee Genao and Atria Books who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you enjoyed This is Home by Duffy....you'll enjoy this.
Thirteen miles off the coast of Massachusetts, on Ichabod Island, ten-year-old, Skye has become an orphan for the second time in her life when her adoptive parents die in an accident. Not only does Leo learn that his best friend died in the accident, but he has been named Skye's guardian. Back on the Island, he is trying his best to make it work, while his husband, is struggling with island life and having a child in their life.
Maggie is a constant in Skye's life and is more than supportive of Leo and helps whenever she can. She's a loving woman who is struggling with her marriage and a local scandal which has opened her eyes.
Agnes is a busy body who happens to be Maggie's best friend. But can their relationship survive when Agnes steps over the line?
Joe, another neighbor, is quick to welcome Joe and his husband to the island. He is recovering from a bad fall and burdened with the knowledge that something wasn't quite right in Skye's home months leading up to the accident.
Lastly, there is a mysterious woman who is on the island who has come to Ichabod to fulfill her dying wish.
Community, love, tragedy, relationships, friendship, addiction, mental illness, family, hope, starting over, secrets, inappropriateness, and talent. This book has a little bit of everything. The characters are likable, flawed, relatable and have depth.
Duffy has a gift of transporting readers to her locations. I felt as if I were a member of this Island Community watching as this group of people rallied together even while having their differences. I loved the use of the mysterious character and was trying to figure out how she fits into the story and once I knew it just made the book even more enjoyable for me.
Fans of Duffy will enjoy this book. For those who have not read her, have your eyes out for this book and while you are at it, check out her other books (The Salt House, This is Home) as well.
I found this book to be well written, engaging, thought-provoking end endearing. A must read!
Thank you to Lisa Duffy and Maudee Genao and Atria Books who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 9, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up.
Life isn’t perfect. Things happen that cause grief and loss. Sometimes people lose themselves to alcohol or drugs or mental illness or lose their way in relationships, marriages and friendships. All of these things happen in this novel and it’s the characters with their imperfections and the mistakes they make along the way, the assumptions they have about each other, the assumptions that we as readers have about them, that make them so relatable. No one is perfect, but people can sometimes find their way when they are surrounded by people who love them.
There’s a lot packed into this story which takes place on a small New England Island with the feel of a small town and all of the dynamics that come from the proximity of people and houses and a shared history. At its heart, the novel is about a little girl named Sky, suffering grief and a terrible loss. It’s also about those around her - friends and family who try the best to care for her while dealing with their own personal burdens.
I found this to be predictable and had guessed some of the things that weren’t apparent to the characters until the end and there were a couple of things that felt a little dramatic. Having said that, it’s a lovely story reflecting on what brings people together or back together, sometimes back to the people they were and what home really means. I have to round up to 4 stars because these characters were “my kind of people “ - sometimes a little lost, but filled with love for family and friends. I’ve read all three of Lisa Duffy’s books and found all of them to be solid, moving stories reflecting on the bonds of home and family and love, things we can all relate to.
An advanced copy was provided by Atria Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Life isn’t perfect. Things happen that cause grief and loss. Sometimes people lose themselves to alcohol or drugs or mental illness or lose their way in relationships, marriages and friendships. All of these things happen in this novel and it’s the characters with their imperfections and the mistakes they make along the way, the assumptions they have about each other, the assumptions that we as readers have about them, that make them so relatable. No one is perfect, but people can sometimes find their way when they are surrounded by people who love them.
There’s a lot packed into this story which takes place on a small New England Island with the feel of a small town and all of the dynamics that come from the proximity of people and houses and a shared history. At its heart, the novel is about a little girl named Sky, suffering grief and a terrible loss. It’s also about those around her - friends and family who try the best to care for her while dealing with their own personal burdens.
I found this to be predictable and had guessed some of the things that weren’t apparent to the characters until the end and there were a couple of things that felt a little dramatic. Having said that, it’s a lovely story reflecting on what brings people together or back together, sometimes back to the people they were and what home really means. I have to round up to 4 stars because these characters were “my kind of people “ - sometimes a little lost, but filled with love for family and friends. I’ve read all three of Lisa Duffy’s books and found all of them to be solid, moving stories reflecting on the bonds of home and family and love, things we can all relate to.
An advanced copy was provided by Atria Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2020
5 Heartwarming Stars!
Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you might just happen to read a book at the exact perfect moment. It’s a book that brings you comfort and peace and makes you feel completely content. A book you just want to curl up with. (My cat, in fact, did exactly that!)
For me, that book was “My Kind of People” by Lisa Duffy. As soon as I started reading it, a calmness enveloped me, almost like the warmth of a cozy blanket on a cold snowy day.
“My Kind of People” centers around a community: family, friends and neighbors, who live on Ichabod Island in New England. People whose lives who’ve been torn apart by tragedy and secrets.
First, there’s Sky, whose life is in shambles after her parents are killed tragically. Though life has dealt Sky the worst possible cards in the deck, somehow, Sky is able to believe. Then there’s Leo, Sky’s Legal Guardian. Kind, intuitive, sweet Leo who simply wants to make everything ok, for Sky and for his husband Xavier. If only it were that easy. Maggie, Leo and Sky’s next door neighbor, has recently had a few struggles of her own. Marital troubles - which Maggie’s best friend Agnes seems happy to fixate on. Tsk, tsk. Then we have Joe, neighbor to both Leo and Maggie, who has troubles of his own, though he is always there for everyone in their time of need.
“My Kind of People” is a character driven novel which includes a stellar cast. Each character is multifaceted and full of heart and incredible depth. I loved the characters of Sky, Leo, Maggie, Joe and Frankie (Sky’s best friend) and felt completely engulfed in the storyline from the get go. I could say that it’s because I grew up in New England and could imagine myself in the picturesque town, though in truth it’s entirely due to Lisa Duffy’s writing style and her brilliant characterizations.
Even before I started this book I had a feeling. I mean, how could I not? The title itself made me think the book would be pretty darn special. “My Kind of People” - what’s not to like? When I meet someone, I can tell almost immediately, if they are “My Kind of People” so I was pretty sure this was my kind of book! That said, last year when I had read Lisa Duffy’s “This is Home” and I felt much the same way. That book made it on to my Goodreads Best of List for 2019 and this book struck a chord with me early on and from that point, I knew that this book was just as special and would appear on this year’s Best of List. For those of you who wonder if you should read this, the answer is a resounding yes! It will fill your heart with peace and love and give you that warmth that you so desperately need.
Thank you so much to Lisa Duffy for filling that Void.
Thank you to Maudee Genao at Atria Books for the Galley, NetGalley for the e-arc.
Happy Publication Day!
Published on Goodreads, Amazon and NetGalley on 5.12.20.
Excerpt to be published on Insta.
Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you might just happen to read a book at the exact perfect moment. It’s a book that brings you comfort and peace and makes you feel completely content. A book you just want to curl up with. (My cat, in fact, did exactly that!)
For me, that book was “My Kind of People” by Lisa Duffy. As soon as I started reading it, a calmness enveloped me, almost like the warmth of a cozy blanket on a cold snowy day.
“My Kind of People” centers around a community: family, friends and neighbors, who live on Ichabod Island in New England. People whose lives who’ve been torn apart by tragedy and secrets.
First, there’s Sky, whose life is in shambles after her parents are killed tragically. Though life has dealt Sky the worst possible cards in the deck, somehow, Sky is able to believe. Then there’s Leo, Sky’s Legal Guardian. Kind, intuitive, sweet Leo who simply wants to make everything ok, for Sky and for his husband Xavier. If only it were that easy. Maggie, Leo and Sky’s next door neighbor, has recently had a few struggles of her own. Marital troubles - which Maggie’s best friend Agnes seems happy to fixate on. Tsk, tsk. Then we have Joe, neighbor to both Leo and Maggie, who has troubles of his own, though he is always there for everyone in their time of need.
“My Kind of People” is a character driven novel which includes a stellar cast. Each character is multifaceted and full of heart and incredible depth. I loved the characters of Sky, Leo, Maggie, Joe and Frankie (Sky’s best friend) and felt completely engulfed in the storyline from the get go. I could say that it’s because I grew up in New England and could imagine myself in the picturesque town, though in truth it’s entirely due to Lisa Duffy’s writing style and her brilliant characterizations.
Even before I started this book I had a feeling. I mean, how could I not? The title itself made me think the book would be pretty darn special. “My Kind of People” - what’s not to like? When I meet someone, I can tell almost immediately, if they are “My Kind of People” so I was pretty sure this was my kind of book! That said, last year when I had read Lisa Duffy’s “This is Home” and I felt much the same way. That book made it on to my Goodreads Best of List for 2019 and this book struck a chord with me early on and from that point, I knew that this book was just as special and would appear on this year’s Best of List. For those of you who wonder if you should read this, the answer is a resounding yes! It will fill your heart with peace and love and give you that warmth that you so desperately need.
Thank you so much to Lisa Duffy for filling that Void.
Thank you to Maudee Genao at Atria Books for the Galley, NetGalley for the e-arc.
Happy Publication Day!
Published on Goodreads, Amazon and NetGalley on 5.12.20.
Excerpt to be published on Insta.
May 22, 2020
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Gosh, I loved my first Lisa Duffy book. What drew me in immediately was the writing. It took me right into the story without any fluff. Next, it was the characters.
Let me tell you about them. On Ichabod Island, we meet a neighborhood of characters, but don’t worry. It’s not too many. It’s just enough for you to feel the strong sense of community these characters also feel.
At the heart of it all is Sky, a charming ten year old girl, newly adopted by Leo, whose friends passed away and named him guardian of Sky. Leo is an architect married to Xavier.
Maggie, Sky’s fourth grade teacher, also lives on Winding Way, along with her husband, Pete, and her best friend, the cranky school nurse, Agnes. There’s also the lovable Joe, who’s recently had an injury leaving him home all the time. And I can’t forget Frankie, Sky’s best friend.
Things happen during this summer on Winding Way, life events big and small. I never disconnected from this story. From the very first chapter, I knew it was just my kind of story.
A story of love- love for child, love for others, love for self, maybe a little romantic love. It’s a story of friendship and community, and it’s beautiful.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Gosh, I loved my first Lisa Duffy book. What drew me in immediately was the writing. It took me right into the story without any fluff. Next, it was the characters.
Let me tell you about them. On Ichabod Island, we meet a neighborhood of characters, but don’t worry. It’s not too many. It’s just enough for you to feel the strong sense of community these characters also feel.
At the heart of it all is Sky, a charming ten year old girl, newly adopted by Leo, whose friends passed away and named him guardian of Sky. Leo is an architect married to Xavier.
Maggie, Sky’s fourth grade teacher, also lives on Winding Way, along with her husband, Pete, and her best friend, the cranky school nurse, Agnes. There’s also the lovable Joe, who’s recently had an injury leaving him home all the time. And I can’t forget Frankie, Sky’s best friend.
Things happen during this summer on Winding Way, life events big and small. I never disconnected from this story. From the very first chapter, I knew it was just my kind of story.
A story of love- love for child, love for others, love for self, maybe a little romantic love. It’s a story of friendship and community, and it’s beautiful.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 20, 2020
Last year I really enjoyed Lisa Duffy’s second novel, This is Home, so I jumped at the opportunity to read her new book, My Kind of People. This one revolves around Sky, who in her 10 short years has already lost 2 sets of parents, and her guardian Leo. Leo is black and gay (Sky is white), which to my delight, was not at the center of the story. What is at the center are the relationships amongst neighbors and amongst family members and how out of these relationships come pain, loss of love, resilience, strengthening of bonds, acceptance and joy.
There are a number of characters here to like. Not only Sky and Leo, but also their neighbors Maggie and Joe. Maggie is a school teacher, a very kind woman who deserves more than she has. Joe is a jack-of-all-trades who is always willing to help whoever needs it. I even liked Lillian, a woman with a bad reputation, almost from the get-go. Sky, Leo, and Maggie all struggle with the issues of who they are and where do they belong. Their journeys make for some fine reading.
Of note, the setting is Ichabod Island, a fictional island off the coast of Massachusetts. The author does a nice job conveying the atmosphere and feel of the location.
I had to deduct a star as I pretty much guessed the crux of the revelations at the end of the book early on. Nonetheless, the story captivated me enough mark Ms. Duffy’s first book, The Salt House, the only one I haven’t read yet.
I highly recommend My Kind of People for all readers of contemporary fiction looking for a satisfying character-driven novel.
My thanks go to Atria Books, Net Galley, and Ms. Lisa Duffy for an advanced copy. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
There are a number of characters here to like. Not only Sky and Leo, but also their neighbors Maggie and Joe. Maggie is a school teacher, a very kind woman who deserves more than she has. Joe is a jack-of-all-trades who is always willing to help whoever needs it. I even liked Lillian, a woman with a bad reputation, almost from the get-go. Sky, Leo, and Maggie all struggle with the issues of who they are and where do they belong. Their journeys make for some fine reading.
Of note, the setting is Ichabod Island, a fictional island off the coast of Massachusetts. The author does a nice job conveying the atmosphere and feel of the location.
I had to deduct a star as I pretty much guessed the crux of the revelations at the end of the book early on. Nonetheless, the story captivated me enough mark Ms. Duffy’s first book, The Salt House, the only one I haven’t read yet.
I highly recommend My Kind of People for all readers of contemporary fiction looking for a satisfying character-driven novel.
My thanks go to Atria Books, Net Galley, and Ms. Lisa Duffy for an advanced copy. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
June 8, 2020
My Kind of People is all about the characters here and their relationships with each other while exploring home, family, loss and community. I enjoyed the dynamics between the knit community here that comes together after a tragedy to care for 10-year-old Skye after the loss of her parents. The characters are endearing, diverse and relatable, each with their own voice and conflict. Some with conflicts with each other and Lisa Duffy keeps the drama low between them. I cared about them and was invested in what happens to them from start to finish.
While Lisa Duffy explores themes here with loss, grieve, addiction, mental illness, belonging, judgement she keeps it light while creating depth, and growth in the characters. She writes with understanding and hope.
I loved the setting here and it brought a warm feeling to the story for me and added to the sense of community with the characters. I wanted to visit this community with a book and nothing to do but read on Ichabld Island and these characters who were my kind of people. I highly recommend for an endearing read
I received a copy from the publisher
While Lisa Duffy explores themes here with loss, grieve, addiction, mental illness, belonging, judgement she keeps it light while creating depth, and growth in the characters. She writes with understanding and hope.
I loved the setting here and it brought a warm feeling to the story for me and added to the sense of community with the characters. I wanted to visit this community with a book and nothing to do but read on Ichabld Island and these characters who were my kind of people. I highly recommend for an endearing read
I received a copy from the publisher
May 29, 2020
What makes a family? What sacrifices should you have to make to have one?
Leo’s life is turned upside down when his best friends Brian and Ann die and name him the guardian of their 10-year-old daughter, Sky. He temporarily moves back to his childhood hometown on Ichabod Island, just off the coast of Massachusetts. His new responsibilities threaten his job and his marriage to Xavier, who doesn’t want to have kids and wants to continue living in NYC.
"How do you build a new life? Leo wonders. How do you fill shoes so goddamn big?"
From the outside looking in, Brian and Ann seemed to have the perfect marriage. But were secrets taking their toll?
When Agnes, the island’s resident busybody, invites Sky’s maternal grandmother, whom she has never really known, to stay on the island, it causes a great deal of friction among longtime friends and neighbors, not to mention Leo and Xavier. What are her intentions toward Sky? And what does Sky want?
My Kind of People studies relationships of all kinds: romantic, marital, parental, friendships, and those which fall somewhere between the two. How do we protect someone else from getting hurt while keeping our own guard up at the same time?
Lisa Duffy has a magnificent way of immersing you in her books. Only a few pages in and you feel like you’ve known these characters forever. Despite the tensions, the island itself seemed so welcoming.
This story took a little longer to click with me than Duffy’s other books. There’s a lot of angry people in this book, and it wasn’t fun to process all of that early on. But Duffy’s storytelling is so beautiful that I started caring about the characters and what happened to them. One storyline was a little more melodramatic than it needed to be, but it still worked within the confines of the plot.
Duffy is definitely an auto-buy author for me and I can’t wait until her next book! You really should read her books if you haven't already. This is Home is my favorite.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Leo’s life is turned upside down when his best friends Brian and Ann die and name him the guardian of their 10-year-old daughter, Sky. He temporarily moves back to his childhood hometown on Ichabod Island, just off the coast of Massachusetts. His new responsibilities threaten his job and his marriage to Xavier, who doesn’t want to have kids and wants to continue living in NYC.
"How do you build a new life? Leo wonders. How do you fill shoes so goddamn big?"
From the outside looking in, Brian and Ann seemed to have the perfect marriage. But were secrets taking their toll?
When Agnes, the island’s resident busybody, invites Sky’s maternal grandmother, whom she has never really known, to stay on the island, it causes a great deal of friction among longtime friends and neighbors, not to mention Leo and Xavier. What are her intentions toward Sky? And what does Sky want?
My Kind of People studies relationships of all kinds: romantic, marital, parental, friendships, and those which fall somewhere between the two. How do we protect someone else from getting hurt while keeping our own guard up at the same time?
Lisa Duffy has a magnificent way of immersing you in her books. Only a few pages in and you feel like you’ve known these characters forever. Despite the tensions, the island itself seemed so welcoming.
This story took a little longer to click with me than Duffy’s other books. There’s a lot of angry people in this book, and it wasn’t fun to process all of that early on. But Duffy’s storytelling is so beautiful that I started caring about the characters and what happened to them. One storyline was a little more melodramatic than it needed to be, but it still worked within the confines of the plot.
Duffy is definitely an auto-buy author for me and I can’t wait until her next book! You really should read her books if you haven't already. This is Home is my favorite.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
May 26, 2020
My kind of book. Fabulous well developed characters, quaint small town setting, uplifting heartwarming storyline. Lisa Duffy is a beautiful and vivid storyteller who touched my heart with her words. Leo has returned to Ichabod Island after the death of one of his closest friends. He is now guardian to a lively 10-year-old girl Sky. Leo is not sure he’s ready for fatherhood, and his husband Xavier definitely is not. Luckily neighbor Maggie is always there to lend a helpful hand. Maggie has known Sky all her life and now that her two boys are away from home she is more than happy to help with Sky. Maggie is also going through a bit of a personal crisis trying to figure out what she’s going to do about her cheating husband and her nosy Bestie. Leo, Maggie, along with another neighbor Joe are all charmed by Sky and want to make this transition as easy as possible for her. A gorgeous character driven story about love, loss, and community.
I loved every minute I spend with these wonderful characters on this charming island. The story is narrated from multiple perspectives: Leo, Sky, Maggie, and A mysterious narrator with a past connection. Sky was probably my favorite character I loved her friendship with Frankie and how wise yet innocent she was when it came to reading people. Leo was also a great character. Imagine being thrown into parenthood without a warning, I loved his character’s growth and how his relationship with his husband evolved. Maggie was a character I related to The Best as a mother with adult kids, I loved the decisions she made because she really deserved happiness. A wonderful assortment of characters who gave me all the feels. This was my first book from Miss Duffy but it will 100% not be my last.
This book in emojis 🏡 🐶 👨👨👧 🌳 🎨
*** Big thank you to Atria for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
I loved every minute I spend with these wonderful characters on this charming island. The story is narrated from multiple perspectives: Leo, Sky, Maggie, and A mysterious narrator with a past connection. Sky was probably my favorite character I loved her friendship with Frankie and how wise yet innocent she was when it came to reading people. Leo was also a great character. Imagine being thrown into parenthood without a warning, I loved his character’s growth and how his relationship with his husband evolved. Maggie was a character I related to The Best as a mother with adult kids, I loved the decisions she made because she really deserved happiness. A wonderful assortment of characters who gave me all the feels. This was my first book from Miss Duffy but it will 100% not be my last.
This book in emojis 🏡 🐶 👨👨👧 🌳 🎨
*** Big thank you to Atria for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
May 12, 2020
!! NOW AVAILABLE !!
4.5 Stars
As a newborn, Sky was left at the Fire Station on Ichabod Island, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts, and was soon thereafter adopted by Ann and Brian. At the age of ten, Sky loses the only parents she has ever really known when they are killed in an accident. Enter Leo, who learns that he has been named Sky's guardian upon the death of his close friends, having grown up on Ichabod Island. Leo, and his husband Xavier, had agreed to a childless marriage, but he’s known, and loved, Sky all of her life, and can’t imagine walking away from her. But Sky is not the only obstacle for Xavier, the quiet island life is not for him, he prefers living in the city.
Leo, on the other hand, is determined to make sure that Sky is surrounded by love, out of his love for her parents, for Sky, and for himself. As time passes, they grow even closer, and a distance grows between him and Xavier the more devoted he becomes to Sky.
There is much more to this story, but if you’ve read Lisa Duffy’s This is Home, which I read and loved, or The Salt House, which I haven’t read yet, but am looking forward to reading, then you won’t need much convincing to read this one. It covers a lot of the things that tear couples, families apart, from alcoholism to mental illness, secrets and the way they tend to come to the surface - infidelity, the Me Too movement, race, sexuality, and more – but in subtle ways that are woven through the story. The people who live on this island, the magic of this island itself, a dash of mystery, and the way this place and these people surround this family with love made this a joy to read.
Pub Date: 01 June 2020
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books
4.5 Stars
As a newborn, Sky was left at the Fire Station on Ichabod Island, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts, and was soon thereafter adopted by Ann and Brian. At the age of ten, Sky loses the only parents she has ever really known when they are killed in an accident. Enter Leo, who learns that he has been named Sky's guardian upon the death of his close friends, having grown up on Ichabod Island. Leo, and his husband Xavier, had agreed to a childless marriage, but he’s known, and loved, Sky all of her life, and can’t imagine walking away from her. But Sky is not the only obstacle for Xavier, the quiet island life is not for him, he prefers living in the city.
Leo, on the other hand, is determined to make sure that Sky is surrounded by love, out of his love for her parents, for Sky, and for himself. As time passes, they grow even closer, and a distance grows between him and Xavier the more devoted he becomes to Sky.
There is much more to this story, but if you’ve read Lisa Duffy’s This is Home, which I read and loved, or The Salt House, which I haven’t read yet, but am looking forward to reading, then you won’t need much convincing to read this one. It covers a lot of the things that tear couples, families apart, from alcoholism to mental illness, secrets and the way they tend to come to the surface - infidelity, the Me Too movement, race, sexuality, and more – but in subtle ways that are woven through the story. The people who live on this island, the magic of this island itself, a dash of mystery, and the way this place and these people surround this family with love made this a joy to read.
Pub Date: 01 June 2020
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books
January 6, 2022
This is a Contemporary. I have to say I was so lost while reading the first part of the book, and I did not love the first part of the book. Even after finishing the book there was parts of the first part of the book I do not think needed to be in the book. I have to say I like the ending, but I do not think it was worth reading the first part of the book. I also did not love the writing style of this book. The characters grow on me. I won an ARC copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway, but this review is 100% my own opinion about how I feel about the book.
March 30, 2020
5 Stunning Stars!!!
Lisa Duffy’s talent of transporting the reader into her books is amazing! This is my second book by this author and I loved every second of it. I found myself so deeply immersed in the story that I felt like I was one of the members of the tight knitted community of Ichabod Island. All the characters were perfect in their imperfect ways. I loved Leo and Sky’s relationship, and Maggie was a perfect catalyst to the everyday neighborhood drama.
This book has everything: mystery, family dynamics, addiction, tragedy, mental illness, racial and social differences, secrets, betrayal, and most importantly hope and love. I simply could not get enough of this book!
Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Lisa Duffy’s talent of transporting the reader into her books is amazing! This is my second book by this author and I loved every second of it. I found myself so deeply immersed in the story that I felt like I was one of the members of the tight knitted community of Ichabod Island. All the characters were perfect in their imperfect ways. I loved Leo and Sky’s relationship, and Maggie was a perfect catalyst to the everyday neighborhood drama.
This book has everything: mystery, family dynamics, addiction, tragedy, mental illness, racial and social differences, secrets, betrayal, and most importantly hope and love. I simply could not get enough of this book!
Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 14, 2020
Ichabod Island is an insular island off the coast of Massachusetts, where the residents, while they may keep to themselves, know and care a great deal about one another and their neighbors' lives. It's a terrible tragedy when they lose two beloved residents, Brian and Ann, who leave behind their ten-year-old daughter. Former Ichabod resident Leo returns to the island to care for Sky, per the will that named him her guardian. Leo is grieving the death of his best friends and Sky that of her parents. Leo quickly finds himself struggling to balance raising Sky along with performing his mainland job and maintaining his marriage to his husband, Oliver, who is wary about their newfound parenthood and life away from Boston. Leo must rely on Brian and Ann's neighbors: Maggie, Sky's teacher, who helps watch her for Leo, even as she finds her own marriage to the local police chief dissolving and Joe, a builder who knows more about Sky's parents' relationship than most.
"She thinks about it all the time. Wonders if her parents are gone because they never belonged to her in the first place."
This novel cemented Duffy as one of my absolute favorite writers. This is a lovely and touching read, bringing to life the group of islanders who come together to care for Sky. Duffy builds her worlds so perfectly: I was lost on Ichabod Island with these characters--all of whom are so uniquely them. This book will go straight to your heart.
I fell immediately for sweet Sky. We learn that Brian and Ann are Sky's adoptive parents, so she's basically been orphaned twice. She is troubled as her parents were fighting a lot right before they died--going against the town view of them as the "perfect couple." While this novel is mostly a deep dive into its characters, there is a touch of mystery here. Why were Sky's parents fighting, and did it have anything to do with the car crash that caused their death? Also, a mysterious woman arrives in town--what is her role to play in the story? Duffy weaves together all of these plot points so well; I was captivated by the book and even though I wanted to slow down and savor it, I also wanted to know what had happened, to find out what would happen to Sky and Leo.
"A fearless girl who doesn't just think she's safe alone in the dark on an island in the Atlantic. She knows it."
I love that Duffy included a gay couple in her novel--and treats them like regular people. Leo is a wonderful character: complex and struggling with new parenthood. In the end, you feel like you know the entire neighborhood block, from sweet Joe; to Maggie, who is coming into her own in her '50s; to longtime resident Agnes, who is set in her ways; to Sky's tough best friend Frankie; and Sky's newly found grandmother, Lillian. All of these characters play a real role in this story: not an easy feat when the focus is on Leo and Sky.
Overall, this is a wonderfully written novel that covers family, marriage, tragedy, love, and so much more. Duffy's characters are beautiful, and she has an amazing way of bringing you right into the world she has created. I will always read anything she writes. 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Atria Books for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
You can support independent bookstores and buy a copy of My Kind of People here.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
"She thinks about it all the time. Wonders if her parents are gone because they never belonged to her in the first place."
This novel cemented Duffy as one of my absolute favorite writers. This is a lovely and touching read, bringing to life the group of islanders who come together to care for Sky. Duffy builds her worlds so perfectly: I was lost on Ichabod Island with these characters--all of whom are so uniquely them. This book will go straight to your heart.
I fell immediately for sweet Sky. We learn that Brian and Ann are Sky's adoptive parents, so she's basically been orphaned twice. She is troubled as her parents were fighting a lot right before they died--going against the town view of them as the "perfect couple." While this novel is mostly a deep dive into its characters, there is a touch of mystery here. Why were Sky's parents fighting, and did it have anything to do with the car crash that caused their death? Also, a mysterious woman arrives in town--what is her role to play in the story? Duffy weaves together all of these plot points so well; I was captivated by the book and even though I wanted to slow down and savor it, I also wanted to know what had happened, to find out what would happen to Sky and Leo.
"A fearless girl who doesn't just think she's safe alone in the dark on an island in the Atlantic. She knows it."
I love that Duffy included a gay couple in her novel--and treats them like regular people. Leo is a wonderful character: complex and struggling with new parenthood. In the end, you feel like you know the entire neighborhood block, from sweet Joe; to Maggie, who is coming into her own in her '50s; to longtime resident Agnes, who is set in her ways; to Sky's tough best friend Frankie; and Sky's newly found grandmother, Lillian. All of these characters play a real role in this story: not an easy feat when the focus is on Leo and Sky.
Overall, this is a wonderfully written novel that covers family, marriage, tragedy, love, and so much more. Duffy's characters are beautiful, and she has an amazing way of bringing you right into the world she has created. I will always read anything she writes. 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Atria Books for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
You can support independent bookstores and buy a copy of My Kind of People here.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
April 2, 2020
I loved Lisa Duffy’s last novel, This is Home, and her new one is also a wonderful read. Leo lives with his husband, Xavier, on Ichabod, an island community in New England. When Leo’s best friend and his wife die in a car accident, he finds himself with custody of their 10 year old daughter, Sky. There are so many well drawn characters in the village, such as Agnes, the school nurse and snobbish busybody, Maggie, an elementary school teacher who is trapped in her marriage, and Lillian, a newcomer, who is also Sky’s grandmother. Everyone on the island seems to have secrets, and some of them will prove to be life-changing. If you enjoy well-written character-driven novels, Lisa Duffy should be on your to-read list. Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC.
May 11, 2020
I have enjoyed all of Lisa Duffy’s books and My Kind of People is no exception. With wonderful characters and real world issues, this book took me on an emotional journey set in a place I would love to be.
Review below - Author Q & A on https://booknationbyjen.com/2020/05/1...
We follow the story of Sky, a young girl who lives in a tight knit community on a secluded island off the coast of Massachusetts. Her adoptive parents suffer a deadly accident and their old friend, Leo, returns to the island to become her caregiver. This unexpected change of life plans interferes with Leo’s relationship with his husband and causes him to rethink his priorities. Neighbor Maggie, married to the chief of police, is dealing with her own marital problems and pitches in to help with Sky while she figures out what her future holds. An observant neighbor with a secret, an estranged grandmother with questionable motives and an odd and elusive woman hiding out on the island cause intrigue and mystery while infusing more life into this wonderful little town.
Friends, relative and neighbors living on secluded Ichabod Island with mostly good intentions and some secrets up their sleeves, work hard to pull together amidst a tragedy. Lisa Duffy doesn’t shy away from real issues including race, marriage, alcohol abuse and infidelity while making you wish you lived with these flawed, genuine people on this beautiful island. In My Kind of People, we see how a caring community can be resilient, come together in support of each other and feel like family. I loved this book – it is a perfect summer read. Preorder today! Book is available May 12th.
Author Q & A on Book Nation by Jen
https://booknationbyjen.com/2020/05/1...
Review below - Author Q & A on https://booknationbyjen.com/2020/05/1...
We follow the story of Sky, a young girl who lives in a tight knit community on a secluded island off the coast of Massachusetts. Her adoptive parents suffer a deadly accident and their old friend, Leo, returns to the island to become her caregiver. This unexpected change of life plans interferes with Leo’s relationship with his husband and causes him to rethink his priorities. Neighbor Maggie, married to the chief of police, is dealing with her own marital problems and pitches in to help with Sky while she figures out what her future holds. An observant neighbor with a secret, an estranged grandmother with questionable motives and an odd and elusive woman hiding out on the island cause intrigue and mystery while infusing more life into this wonderful little town.
Friends, relative and neighbors living on secluded Ichabod Island with mostly good intentions and some secrets up their sleeves, work hard to pull together amidst a tragedy. Lisa Duffy doesn’t shy away from real issues including race, marriage, alcohol abuse and infidelity while making you wish you lived with these flawed, genuine people on this beautiful island. In My Kind of People, we see how a caring community can be resilient, come together in support of each other and feel like family. I loved this book – it is a perfect summer read. Preorder today! Book is available May 12th.
Author Q & A on Book Nation by Jen
https://booknationbyjen.com/2020/05/1...
May 11, 2020
I fell in love with Lisa Duffy's storytelling in her book This is Home. So, I was honored to read her new book My Kind of People.
Lisa Duffy is hands down a very talented author. My Kind of People is a very character driven novel with one of our main character's Skye at it's center. Skye is a 10 year old little girl who sadly has become an orphan for the second time when her adoptive parents die in a car crash. Leo not only learns that his best friends have died but he is legally the guardian of Skye now. Leo is struggling to keep his relationship alive with his partner and balancing become a new father now to Skye.
Characterization is what makes this novel so special. I absolutely LOVED Leo. Oh my goodness he was my favorite. Duffy transpires you into the island of Ichabod and you feel right at home. Lisa Duffy once again lays a masterful story of love, friendship, loss, tragedy, community, mental illness, and overcoming grief.
Duffy's fans will surely enjoy this one just as much as her previous novels. I highly recommend checking this one out but I do have to say that my favorite by Duffy is This is Home.
Overall, wonderful!
4 stars!
Thank you so much to Atria for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub day: 5/12/20
Published to GR: 5/10/20
Published to IG: 5/11/20
Lisa Duffy is hands down a very talented author. My Kind of People is a very character driven novel with one of our main character's Skye at it's center. Skye is a 10 year old little girl who sadly has become an orphan for the second time when her adoptive parents die in a car crash. Leo not only learns that his best friends have died but he is legally the guardian of Skye now. Leo is struggling to keep his relationship alive with his partner and balancing become a new father now to Skye.
Characterization is what makes this novel so special. I absolutely LOVED Leo. Oh my goodness he was my favorite. Duffy transpires you into the island of Ichabod and you feel right at home. Lisa Duffy once again lays a masterful story of love, friendship, loss, tragedy, community, mental illness, and overcoming grief.
Duffy's fans will surely enjoy this one just as much as her previous novels. I highly recommend checking this one out but I do have to say that my favorite by Duffy is This is Home.
Overall, wonderful!
4 stars!
Thank you so much to Atria for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub day: 5/12/20
Published to GR: 5/10/20
Published to IG: 5/11/20
November 22, 2020
4 Stars
This heartfelt family drama earned 4 Stars from me.
SUMMARY
Ten year old Sky becomes an orphan, when her parents die in a car accident. In fact, it is the second time she has lost her parents as she was given up for adoption at birth. Her parents chose Leo, her father's closest friend since childhood, as her guardian. It's a huge transition for everyone.
Although Leo whole heartedly loves Sky, he is an newly married architect living in Boston, this new responsibility requires moving back to the small island where he was raised. It's over an hour commute to Boston.
Xavier, Leo's husband is not sure he wants to make the move and they had decided previously that they do not want to have children.
Sky is grieving the loss of her parents and often sneaks out of the house to wander the island or to sleep in her tree house.
On this small town of an island, everyone has an opinion about what is best for Sky. Several neighbors are extremely helpful and supportive, but others tend to meddle versus help. And it seems, a lot of people have secrets which they are desperately trying to hide. To top things off, Sky's estranged grandmother makes an appearance, forcing Leo to make some tough decisions about Sky's future.
WHAT I LOVED
This is a very complicated story about people with mostly good intentions who are often not in agreement with each other. It was interesting to see each characters reactions to situations, particularly when they came to different conclusions when they all thought they were doing the right thing.
It would be hard to read this book and not fall in love with Sky. I could completely understand why the whole town felt protective of her.
I really loved Leo. He was thrown into a difficult situation and really wanted to do the right thing for everyone involved. It was easy to root for him.
They island setting gave me the travel bug!! I desperately wish I was on an island in the northeast right now looking at lovely ocean views and smelling the salt air. I know this is a made up island but I still loved it.
The plot was absorbing. I quickly became invested in the story and didn't feel like I could stop reading until Sky and Leo's futures were settled.
WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
There was a fairly large revelation that I figured out in the first couple of chapters. It was kind of obvious. The story later went into more detail on it, but it was not much of a revelation.
It was a good story, but not really a five star for me.
OVERALL
If you're looking for a heartwarming story with an interesting cast of characters and a vacation like setting, this book is a great escape for you.
This heartfelt family drama earned 4 Stars from me.
SUMMARY
Ten year old Sky becomes an orphan, when her parents die in a car accident. In fact, it is the second time she has lost her parents as she was given up for adoption at birth. Her parents chose Leo, her father's closest friend since childhood, as her guardian. It's a huge transition for everyone.
Although Leo whole heartedly loves Sky, he is an newly married architect living in Boston, this new responsibility requires moving back to the small island where he was raised. It's over an hour commute to Boston.
Xavier, Leo's husband is not sure he wants to make the move and they had decided previously that they do not want to have children.
Sky is grieving the loss of her parents and often sneaks out of the house to wander the island or to sleep in her tree house.
On this small town of an island, everyone has an opinion about what is best for Sky. Several neighbors are extremely helpful and supportive, but others tend to meddle versus help. And it seems, a lot of people have secrets which they are desperately trying to hide. To top things off, Sky's estranged grandmother makes an appearance, forcing Leo to make some tough decisions about Sky's future.
WHAT I LOVED
This is a very complicated story about people with mostly good intentions who are often not in agreement with each other. It was interesting to see each characters reactions to situations, particularly when they came to different conclusions when they all thought they were doing the right thing.
It would be hard to read this book and not fall in love with Sky. I could completely understand why the whole town felt protective of her.
I really loved Leo. He was thrown into a difficult situation and really wanted to do the right thing for everyone involved. It was easy to root for him.
They island setting gave me the travel bug!! I desperately wish I was on an island in the northeast right now looking at lovely ocean views and smelling the salt air. I know this is a made up island but I still loved it.
The plot was absorbing. I quickly became invested in the story and didn't feel like I could stop reading until Sky and Leo's futures were settled.
WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
There was a fairly large revelation that I figured out in the first couple of chapters. It was kind of obvious. The story later went into more detail on it, but it was not much of a revelation.
It was a good story, but not really a five star for me.
OVERALL
If you're looking for a heartwarming story with an interesting cast of characters and a vacation like setting, this book is a great escape for you.
April 27, 2020
Although pretty predictable, I still really enjoyed it. Love the author’s writing style and the uniqueness of this story.
May 8, 2020
I had never heard of Lisa Duffy before but I am sure glad I took a chance and picked up MY KIND OF PEOPLE. Ms. Duffy instantly hooked me and pulled me right in. A young girl who is dealing with becoming an orphan for the second time, plus an island filled with secrets, betrayal, racism, and so much more. MY KIND OF PEOPLE has it all. It is so raw you need to keep the tissues close by because your emotions are going to be on one crazy roller coaster ride.
MY KIND OF PEOPLE is the heartbreaking story of Sky. She has just lost her adoptive parents in a tragic accident. She is now living with her Dad's best friend, Leo who is her guardian and has no idea how to raise a child. Leo is struggling to hold on to his marriage, but his husband is not willing to move to the island and Leo is not ripping Sky away from the only home she has ever known. I loved how the community comes together to help Sky in her life. There is also a mysterious woman who paints beautiful pictures, as she fulfills her dying wish. Hang on tight people! This is a heart tugging story that is going to pull you right in and never let you go!
All the characters in MY KIND OF PEOPLE are very relatable and not perfect at all. You can't help but feel each emotion that these caring people are dealing with. When one of them was happy, I was happy. When Sky was crying, I was crying too. I love when an author does that to their readers. Lisa Duffy grabs her readers by the heart and never lets them go. I truly was an emotional mess after reading this heart tugging story of love and finding a way to get through the situation these people were thrown into. Now that I have read MY KIND OF PEOPLE and discovered Lisa Duffy, I'm excited to read more of this new to me, auto buy from now on author. If you are looking for a contemporary read that is filled with heavy subject matter, but still fills you with hope, please take a chance and read MY KIND OF PEOPLE.
MY KIND OF PEOPLE is the heartbreaking story of Sky. She has just lost her adoptive parents in a tragic accident. She is now living with her Dad's best friend, Leo who is her guardian and has no idea how to raise a child. Leo is struggling to hold on to his marriage, but his husband is not willing to move to the island and Leo is not ripping Sky away from the only home she has ever known. I loved how the community comes together to help Sky in her life. There is also a mysterious woman who paints beautiful pictures, as she fulfills her dying wish. Hang on tight people! This is a heart tugging story that is going to pull you right in and never let you go!
All the characters in MY KIND OF PEOPLE are very relatable and not perfect at all. You can't help but feel each emotion that these caring people are dealing with. When one of them was happy, I was happy. When Sky was crying, I was crying too. I love when an author does that to their readers. Lisa Duffy grabs her readers by the heart and never lets them go. I truly was an emotional mess after reading this heart tugging story of love and finding a way to get through the situation these people were thrown into. Now that I have read MY KIND OF PEOPLE and discovered Lisa Duffy, I'm excited to read more of this new to me, auto buy from now on author. If you are looking for a contemporary read that is filled with heavy subject matter, but still fills you with hope, please take a chance and read MY KIND OF PEOPLE.
May 22, 2020
This book takes place on Ichabod Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. 10 year old Sky becomes an orphan after her parents die in a car accident. They have left custody of their daughter Sky to her mom's best Leo. Leo has a hard time dealing with his new responsibility of sky and his relationship with his husband. Leo relies on many other people on the island to help him. There are lots of characters to love (and sometimes not love) in this one. You feel them really come to life,they were so well developed! You see a community come together to raise Sky! I flew through this! Definitely recommend if you enjoy books about small towns, family drama, and secrets!
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Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!!
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Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!!
May 12, 2020
**My Kind of People generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
5 "The tide waits for no man." Stars
This newest Lisa Duffy dramatic, fictional tale left me in awe; totally captivated by Ichabod Island and it's inhabitants from beginning to end. I feel honored to have been granted the opportunity to read this stunning book. Duffy intricately weaves this powerful story of friendship, love, grief, and hope through the musings and overturned lives of the fascinating people who find themselves lost and in need of finding themselves on Winding Way.
As I type I smile fondly at the the normal people in this book who find themselves in the most ordinary of real-life circumstances. Events that happen to real people that really are ordinary but to the people for which they're happening these circumstances are life altering in ways one can't ever anticipate until they are thrust upon them. It's a heartbreaking yet uplifting book on how we move forward in life and how we deal with a new normal.
I especially love the story crafting and meticulous plotting of Lisa Duffy. Her writing never becomes tediously invested in mundane details or labors over situations. Her words flow so effortlessly from page to page always taking you forward. This is my second book by this gifted author and the structure always builds upon an air of mystery with her characters. It takes questions of "what if" or "what happened" for the protagonists that propel the story while always letting the unknown linger until the ultimate conflict and resolution. Duffy doesn't write thrillers or complete mysteries just ordinary people in character driven, drama type stories allowing readers to become fully invested. It grants us intimate access to follow a path of discovery and exponential growth right along with her engaging, eccentric, and sometimes even a little enigmatic characters, both primary and secondary.
My Kind of People is infused with emotion. It's simply about a group of people and their stories within the confines of their present upturned lives with a beautiful, curious setting that affords readers the chance to get lost within the boundaries of the binding thanks to the thoughtful and gorgeous writing. For lovers of contemporary fiction, this is a book I highly recommend as it's now one of my 2020 and ultimate favorite stories.
5 "The tide waits for no man." Stars
This newest Lisa Duffy dramatic, fictional tale left me in awe; totally captivated by Ichabod Island and it's inhabitants from beginning to end. I feel honored to have been granted the opportunity to read this stunning book. Duffy intricately weaves this powerful story of friendship, love, grief, and hope through the musings and overturned lives of the fascinating people who find themselves lost and in need of finding themselves on Winding Way.
As I type I smile fondly at the the normal people in this book who find themselves in the most ordinary of real-life circumstances. Events that happen to real people that really are ordinary but to the people for which they're happening these circumstances are life altering in ways one can't ever anticipate until they are thrust upon them. It's a heartbreaking yet uplifting book on how we move forward in life and how we deal with a new normal.
I especially love the story crafting and meticulous plotting of Lisa Duffy. Her writing never becomes tediously invested in mundane details or labors over situations. Her words flow so effortlessly from page to page always taking you forward. This is my second book by this gifted author and the structure always builds upon an air of mystery with her characters. It takes questions of "what if" or "what happened" for the protagonists that propel the story while always letting the unknown linger until the ultimate conflict and resolution. Duffy doesn't write thrillers or complete mysteries just ordinary people in character driven, drama type stories allowing readers to become fully invested. It grants us intimate access to follow a path of discovery and exponential growth right along with her engaging, eccentric, and sometimes even a little enigmatic characters, both primary and secondary.
My Kind of People is infused with emotion. It's simply about a group of people and their stories within the confines of their present upturned lives with a beautiful, curious setting that affords readers the chance to get lost within the boundaries of the binding thanks to the thoughtful and gorgeous writing. For lovers of contemporary fiction, this is a book I highly recommend as it's now one of my 2020 and ultimate favorite stories.
May 12, 2020
Y’all I just adored this book! If you’re looking for a heartfelt escape, an ensemble cast of characters that you will fall in love with and a setting that is fully brought to life this is a must read. I was so incredibly invested in the lives of the characters in this book from Sky the ten year old girl who just lost her parents to her neighbor and teacher, Maggie and then to Leo who is Sky’s new legal guardian. There were a handful of other supporting characters that I also loved, is there anything better than feeling like you’ve made new friends by the time you finished a book?!
Besides the best, most relatable characters the author has the most gorgeous writing style. I’m not a big fan of literary fiction, mostly because I feel like I’m not smart enough for wordy prose, but her writing has such a beautiful, evocative feel that it almost feels like you’re reading literary fiction without the pretentiousness. There’s also a little mystery element as well as some exploration into some timely issues like race relations, sexuality and mental health issues all with a graceful and insightful touch. Highly recommended by me!
Besides the best, most relatable characters the author has the most gorgeous writing style. I’m not a big fan of literary fiction, mostly because I feel like I’m not smart enough for wordy prose, but her writing has such a beautiful, evocative feel that it almost feels like you’re reading literary fiction without the pretentiousness. There’s also a little mystery element as well as some exploration into some timely issues like race relations, sexuality and mental health issues all with a graceful and insightful touch. Highly recommended by me!
May 8, 2023
On the small island of Ichabod Island, just off the coast of Massachusetts, 10 year old Sky is grieving the death of her adoptive parents. Leo, Sky's father's best friend is named guardian and is completely unprepared. Leo is comfortable returning to his hometown, but his husband feels like an outsider and misses the city.
Leo is not the only one in their close knit neighborhood struggling with their marriage. Maggie has come to a turning point in her relationship with her husband, who is the island's Chief of Police. She willingly steps up to help Leo with Sky's care, as does their neighbor Joe. But not all the neighbors are as supportive. And who is the mysterious stranger renting the artist cottage?
Told through multiple voices the novel is heartfelt and emotional. A definite "it takes a village " vibe and a few of the storylines could have used some editing, I still overall enjoyed the book.
3.5 stars.
Leo is not the only one in their close knit neighborhood struggling with their marriage. Maggie has come to a turning point in her relationship with her husband, who is the island's Chief of Police. She willingly steps up to help Leo with Sky's care, as does their neighbor Joe. But not all the neighbors are as supportive. And who is the mysterious stranger renting the artist cottage?
Told through multiple voices the novel is heartfelt and emotional. A definite "it takes a village " vibe and a few of the storylines could have used some editing, I still overall enjoyed the book.
3.5 stars.
December 9, 2019
There's a beautiful thing that happens, as if by magic, midway through every Lisa Duffy novel: I blink awake to the world around me and realize I've been transported, transformed, and utterly invested in the lives of characters who feel like friends. My Kind of People is indeed filled with *my* kind of people: layered, conflicted, underestimated souls who are deeply impacted by one another as their lives intersect and entwine. A moving story of healing, resilience, and every imaginable type of love—between neighbors, parents, spouses, surrogates, and new and old friends—finding a way.
April 13, 2020
This is my second book by Lisa Duffy and the second of her books that I have given 5 stars to. Duffy has a unique ability to create characters that feel so real, it's as if you actually know them, so 3D that they jump off the page and you feel as if they are your friends.
In My Kind of People, Duffy brings us to the world of Ichabod island where the community has banded together around orphan Sky after losing her parents in a sudden car accident. While Sky is left in the custody of her mother's best friend Leo, Leo's husband Xavier has other plans - forcing Leo to lean on local friends and neighbors. Duffy's books always have a sense of creating a family from those around you and this is powerful in MKOP.
As always, I was sad to say goodbye to lovely characters I spent time with between these pages.
Thank you to Atria books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
In My Kind of People, Duffy brings us to the world of Ichabod island where the community has banded together around orphan Sky after losing her parents in a sudden car accident. While Sky is left in the custody of her mother's best friend Leo, Leo's husband Xavier has other plans - forcing Leo to lean on local friends and neighbors. Duffy's books always have a sense of creating a family from those around you and this is powerful in MKOP.
As always, I was sad to say goodbye to lovely characters I spent time with between these pages.
Thank you to Atria books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
May 6, 2020
Duffy's third book, my third read and all three are five stars. WHAAAAAAAAAAT?! And people, you know I like to watch TV while I read and I TURNED OFF THE TV. That's right, you read that right! Before you continue reading this review, stop what you're doing and put this on your TBR. Done? Ok, good! ;)
I could gush and gush about this book for days but I'll keep this short and simple. Duffy creates such characters and gives us such DEPTH that you're not just reading the story, you're LIVING it. I find myself getting completely lost in her reads that I'm emotionally invested and feel a sense of loss when I'm done with the story.
Ichabod became a true place for me in my mind. I absolutely fell in love with each character - especially Sky and Leo... and even Agnes and her grumpy self found her way into my heart. Ok ok.. maybe there's one character I didn't like but I'm ok with not getting to know him better because boooo… haha, but just like in real life, you can't like everyone right? And I quite liked the balance of the reality of it all.
What I love about this is that while there is a bit of a mystery that is laden within the pages, being within the lives of these characters is enough. I could continue to read about them for days to come. But alas, the book has to end at some point I suppose. Le sigh.
And a big thank you to the author for once again including me among other stellar readers in the acknowledgments. It's an honor and pleasure to be a part of this entire journey.
Thank you Atria for this free copy.
I could gush and gush about this book for days but I'll keep this short and simple. Duffy creates such characters and gives us such DEPTH that you're not just reading the story, you're LIVING it. I find myself getting completely lost in her reads that I'm emotionally invested and feel a sense of loss when I'm done with the story.
Ichabod became a true place for me in my mind. I absolutely fell in love with each character - especially Sky and Leo... and even Agnes and her grumpy self found her way into my heart. Ok ok.. maybe there's one character I didn't like but I'm ok with not getting to know him better because boooo… haha, but just like in real life, you can't like everyone right? And I quite liked the balance of the reality of it all.
What I love about this is that while there is a bit of a mystery that is laden within the pages, being within the lives of these characters is enough. I could continue to read about them for days to come. But alas, the book has to end at some point I suppose. Le sigh.
And a big thank you to the author for once again including me among other stellar readers in the acknowledgments. It's an honor and pleasure to be a part of this entire journey.
Thank you Atria for this free copy.
April 28, 2020
I truly needed a Lisa Duffy book in my life right now. Her books are like a big warm hug for my soul. Characters so fully developed and likeable I couldn't help thinking they were my kind of people. This was a great reminder that it does take a village and help often comes from family picked by us as well as blood related.
Thank you Netgalley, Lisa Duffy and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this sweet book!
Thank you Netgalley, Lisa Duffy and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this sweet book!
May 6, 2020
My Kind of People was a great “feel good” story to dive into.
Sky, recently orphaned when her adoptive parents die in a car accident, is adjusting to life without them. She’s under the guardianship of her parents’ best friend, Leo, whom she knows very well. He’s married to his husband, Xavier, whom Sky finds awkward and she can’t seem to get a good read on. She knows one thing: he hates it here on the island.
This book takes place on Ichabod Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. A quaint town where everyone knows everyone, and a close knit family doesn’t just mean within the four walls of your home.
There were a lot of storylines going on in this book, and while it wasn’t confusing for me to read, it was a little overwhelming to be honest. The main storyline is Sky’s of course, but you also have the storylines of Leo and Xavier, a couple of their neighbors, Sky’s estranged grandmother, and a mysterious woman whose presence is a chapter here and there with a page or two describing her current actions. There is a lot going on in this little town!
Anyway, that being said... I loved Sky’s story. I loved her. I loved her passion. This book weaves such a beautiful tale that I had to sit for a minute afterward and just ponder it.
I did think the ending was wrapped up a bit quickly when it came to the other storylines and a few things weren’t fully closed in my opinion, but overall this was such a great book.
TW: Loss of loved ones, Suicide, Drug/Alcohol Abuse (briefly mentioned), Mental Illness, Infidelity, Fire.
*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
Sky, recently orphaned when her adoptive parents die in a car accident, is adjusting to life without them. She’s under the guardianship of her parents’ best friend, Leo, whom she knows very well. He’s married to his husband, Xavier, whom Sky finds awkward and she can’t seem to get a good read on. She knows one thing: he hates it here on the island.
This book takes place on Ichabod Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. A quaint town where everyone knows everyone, and a close knit family doesn’t just mean within the four walls of your home.
There were a lot of storylines going on in this book, and while it wasn’t confusing for me to read, it was a little overwhelming to be honest. The main storyline is Sky’s of course, but you also have the storylines of Leo and Xavier, a couple of their neighbors, Sky’s estranged grandmother, and a mysterious woman whose presence is a chapter here and there with a page or two describing her current actions. There is a lot going on in this little town!
Anyway, that being said... I loved Sky’s story. I loved her. I loved her passion. This book weaves such a beautiful tale that I had to sit for a minute afterward and just ponder it.
I did think the ending was wrapped up a bit quickly when it came to the other storylines and a few things weren’t fully closed in my opinion, but overall this was such a great book.
TW: Loss of loved ones, Suicide, Drug/Alcohol Abuse (briefly mentioned), Mental Illness, Infidelity, Fire.
*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
June 2, 2020
3.5 stars
First, I loved the setting of this story! Set on an island off the coast of Massachusetts, Duffy created an evocative read perfect for summertime reading. Sky is 12 and has just been orphaned after her parents are killed in a car accident under questionable circumstances. They had named Leo as her guardian and he and his new husband have come from NYC to take care of her. Tensions begin to show between the 2 of them as Leo grew up on the island and loves it, his husband does not. Neither wanted kids either and with Sky grieving her parents and sneaking out during the night, there is drama to be had. I found these characters as well as the supporting characters to be so well developed, they felt like real people, especially Leo and Maggie who were my favorites. There's a small side mystery as well with a mysterious woman which I did figure out early on her place in the story. The pace, while at times felt a little slow, kept me turning the pages to find out how Leo and Sky would navigate their new lives together- or would it all become too much for Leo in the end? Overall, I enjoyed their journeys but did find the story fairly predictable.
First, I loved the setting of this story! Set on an island off the coast of Massachusetts, Duffy created an evocative read perfect for summertime reading. Sky is 12 and has just been orphaned after her parents are killed in a car accident under questionable circumstances. They had named Leo as her guardian and he and his new husband have come from NYC to take care of her. Tensions begin to show between the 2 of them as Leo grew up on the island and loves it, his husband does not. Neither wanted kids either and with Sky grieving her parents and sneaking out during the night, there is drama to be had. I found these characters as well as the supporting characters to be so well developed, they felt like real people, especially Leo and Maggie who were my favorites. There's a small side mystery as well with a mysterious woman which I did figure out early on her place in the story. The pace, while at times felt a little slow, kept me turning the pages to find out how Leo and Sky would navigate their new lives together- or would it all become too much for Leo in the end? Overall, I enjoyed their journeys but did find the story fairly predictable.
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